For the second time in less than a month, the missile flew over northern Japanese territory and after traversing some 3,700 km, “along the preset flight track,” it “accurately hit the preset target waters in the Pacific”.

The photos published by the state-run Rodong Sinmun daily showed the missile was fired from a mobile launcher.

The North Korean leader urged the scientists to carry on the weapons tests in the future and underlined the need to consolidate their military attack abilities in order to create a “nuclear counterattack the US cannot cope with”.

Pyongyang hopes to eventually miniaturise nuclear warheads so as to fit them in intercontinental ballistic missiles so that they have the ability to strike US territory.

The latest launch led to fresh criticism from the international community, with US President Donald Trump reprimanded Pyongyang for utter disregard for its neighbours and the global community.

It followed fresh and harsh sanctions on North Korea by the UN Security Council on Monday following its sixth and most potent nuclear test on September 3.